Tretinoin: What Is It?

As a popular drug for treating acne, wrinkles, and other skin conditions, you may have heard of tretinoin or its less potent cousin, retinol. These drugs, simply put, are strong derivatives of Vitamin A. Vitamin A, an essential vitamin for your skin, speeds up the skin cell turnover and stimulates collagen production. You mention tretinoin and retinol. What is the difference? As they are both similar in chemical structure and tretinoin and retinol essentially function the same, just at different strengths. Tretinoin is generally available by prescription only and is used to treat more severe acne and severe conditions regarding texture. Retinol, on the other hand, can be found over the counter. It is often used as a preventative measure for aging, or as a milder option for those experiencing mild to moderate acne. What are the benefits of these drugs?

Tretinoin and retinol offer numerous benefits that can be important for those suffering from acne or those suffering from the effects of aging, such as lines and wrinkles. Some benefits include:

• Treating acne: by keeping pores clear and free of oil and debris, retinols can reduce and even prevent acne breakouts from occurring.

• Prevent the effects of aging: as they promote collagen production, retinols can reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

• Improved skin texture: increasing cell turnover rate smooths out rough patches and skin texture.

• Evens skin tone: by fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation, retinols allow for a more even complexion.

How do these drugs achieve these results? By increasing skin cell turnover, tretinoin and retinol increase the rate at which new skin cells replace old ones. This faster process allows for the quickening of replacing damaged skin cells and also keeps pores cleaner, which in turn reduces imperfections in the skin along with acne breakouts. This process is also the process by which retinols can reduce hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and fine lines. In addition to increasing the cell turnover rate, these medicines stimulate collagen production, an essential protein within the body that gives elasticity and structure to not only the skin, but the bones, muscles, and connective tissues. With an increased collagen production, the skin may appear more plump and firm, which can reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and sagging. When can I expect results? Generally, tretinoin and retinol are drugs that take time to work and show their effects. These medicines are not medicines that act quickly, such as topical antibiotics or moisturizer creams. These drugs deal with deeper processes within the cellular and molecular level of the skin, which don't happen immediately. As such, improvement in skin texture and acne breakouts may start to become visible after 4 to 8 weeks. However, over 3-6 months, and even beyond that, the skin continues to change, with increasingly noticeable improvements in texture, whiteheads, blackheads, wrinkles, and more. With more time comes better results. Is there anything to be aware of? Tretinoin and retinols have a reputation for being strong, potent topical medicines. Due to their alteration of the processes that determine skin cell turnover and collagen production, side effects and interactions may occur. In the initial weeks, users may note an increase in redness, and the skin may appear to "peel". This change is normal and signals that the medicine is doing its job. However, this effect means that it is imperative not to mix tretinoin with other acne treatments that may have similar effects; the effects may stack on top of each other. Examples include benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which both contain peeling agents. In addition to this, tretinoin and retinol are known for increasing your sensitivity to sunlight and UV rays. As a result of the increased cell turnover rate, tretinoin and retinols thin the outermost layer of skin and expose fresh skin cells to UV radiation, which are more prone to UV damage and resulting sunburns and irritation. For this reason, wearing sunscreen daily is imperative with such medications. As with anything, take general precautions as you would with any prescription medicine. Always consult with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns regarding potential side effects, interactions, or proper dosage. Other than that, enjoy your clearer skin!